imaginative

adjective

i-'ma-jə-nə-tiv How to pronounce imaginative (audio)
Definition of imaginativenext
1
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things an imaginative child who is always writing short stories about her pet cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing found an imaginative gadget that can grind the beans and heat the water to brew coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imaginative Their story is drawn from Alberto Conejero’s play La Piedra Oscura, which in turn was inspired by Federico García Lorca’s unfinished work, La Bola Negra — which is itself also dramatized as part of Los Javis’ imaginative tapestry. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 Below, shop some of the top toys for kids of all ages, including imaginative toys for preschoolers, interactive toys for big kids and toys focused on learning and development for babies and toddlers. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Nicolas Cage has made a career of playing imaginative, chaotic, and intense character roles. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026 Dishes such as beef mantou, its interpretation of the Chinese hamburger, thousand-year-old egg and ricotta, passion fruit fish maw noodles, and a generous offering of spicy Yakitori skewers, sums up its imaginative and bold offerings. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imaginative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imaginative
  1. inventive
  2. innovative
  3. creative
  4. clever
  5. talented
Adjective
  • The restaurant is flanked by a bar serving inventive cocktails inspired by the Far Eastern heritage in the use of aromatic herbs.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Cornbread, barbecue chicken, grits and seasonal market vegetables now showcase Brock’s inventive, soulful cooking — and have brought diners back to the restaurant.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of inventive
Adjective
  • During a half-hour speech, von Furstenberg reflected on major career milestones, like her first meeting with Diana Vreeland in 1970 and later being featured on the March 1976 cover of Newsweek in her innovative wrap dress.
    — Ariel Bielsky, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The radio series takes in interviews with academic hormone specialists, including the team at Imperial College in London who are conducting some of the most exciting and innovative research in this area.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of innovative
Adjective
  • The prompts presented the assistant as a character in creative-writing exercises.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Industry support When Corral’s exit from Movistar Plus was announced last year, there was an outpouring of anger, grief and concern from Spain’s creative community that is rarely afforded to a commissioning executive.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of creative
Adjective
  • More Life Kit on home organization 5 clever design tricks to make a small home look bigger.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Airbnb’s story began back in 2007 with three air mattresses in a San Francisco living room—prompting then-roommates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia to conceive clever ways to make rent.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • Loose and populated by talented people, Minimum Wage fits in with a lot of the more web-friendly programming that Netflix has been tiptoeing around recently with podcasts and medium-jumping formats.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Watkins headlines a talented group of stars, including AP Player of the Year Sarah Strong of UConn, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame and South Carolina's Joyce Edwards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of talented

Browse Nearby Words

imagination
imaginative
imaginativeness
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Cite this Entry

“Imaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imaginative. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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